formal nights and dining?

[nittany89]

I am travelling on the Island Princess June 11 Northbound Alaska. I can't seem to find any information on when formal nights are or how many. Can anyone clue me in?

Also, I keep seeing Ultimate Balcony Dining mentioned. What is this?

[JimnKaren]

Typically, formal nights are on a "sea day." Tradition has it that the first sea day evening is the "welcome aboard" formal night and the last sea day is the "farewell" evening.

 

The ultimate balcony dining is where two people sit on your balcony and dinner is brought to you there. Not so good when underway on the open sea, but should be fantastic in Alaska as you will be able to see so much from your balcony and when traveling from one port to another you will be in sheltered waters.

 

Enjoy Alaska, it is great. Don't forget your binoculars.

Jim

[jff50]

On a seven day cruise there are 2 formal nights.

 

The Ultimate Balcony Dining is an extra charge option ($100 for 2 people). I have never done it, but it sounds great. I am planning on it for my next cruise. You should be able to find it referenced in several posts here--search on ultimate balcony. You have to have a balcony to get ultimate balcony dining.

 

A description and the menu can be found at the following site--http://www.cruisingthecaribbeanprincess.com/ultimate.html

[nittany89]

Is there any site anywhere that shows the actual things going on each day?

[cherylandtk]

Coiran provided these Patters to cruisedailes.com. Its from last season, but you should have a similar list of events:

http://www.cruisedailies.com/portal/tabid/303/Default.aspx

[SHIPMEOUT]

Hi,

 

We're just off the Island Princess 15-day Hawaii cruise and we had 3 formal nights - the 2nd, 5th (Valentines' Day) and the 2nd last night (the farewell champagne fountain was done that night).

 

We did the Ultimate Balcony Dining and it was fabulous. For $100 it is a great value and a wonderful experience. You have a personal waiter & busboy for the whole evening, the photographers come to your cabin (you will get a choice of pictures and get one free), you get roses, cocktails of your choice, then champagne, then many courses of a great meal (we chose surf & turf) which included a huge lobster tail. By the time dessert came we could barely get through half of it! If you do nothing else, do this. You will not regret it. You have to arrange it at least 24 hours (call the room service line) before you want the dinner. You will likely meet with Alfonso, the food & beverage supervisor, for about 5-10 minutes the day before the dinner to choose your courses. He was also who waited on us the whole evening. He was absolutely wonderful.

 

Have fun - the Island Princess is a beautiful ship!

 

Cindy